What Agenda for Military Space in Europe?

摘要

With the exception of France and the United Kingdom, European countries have long shown little interest in military space projects. Their armed forces, not much involved in overseas operations, had minor requirements for satellite communications and reconnaissance services and satisfied their needs through access to capacity provided by third parties. Consequently, the European space program has been primarily driven by the civil space agencies that provide 85 percent of the public financing for space in Europe. However by the 1990s geopolitical changes and force modernization needs prompted the defense ministries of leading European countries to begin procuring dedicated satellite capabilities on a national basis. The change led to major duplications and redundancies in research and development spending. At present there are eight national systems for communications or surveillance/reconnaissance satellites either in operation or under development.